Straw-stacker.



' Patented lune I8, I90I. E.' A. WRIGHT.

STRAIN STACKER.

(Application led July 3, 1899.) l

5 Sheets-Sheet I.

mn noms vrins co. mommnm wmnafau n No. 676,4al.

(No Model.)

@vih/wow@ No. 676,481. Patented lune I8, |90l. E. A. WRIGHT.

S'TBAW STACKER,

(Application filed July 3, 1899,)

5 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

No. 676,48I. Patented lune I8, I90I. E. A. WRIGHT.

sTRAw s'TAcKEn.

(Application led July 3, 1899.,

I r f 733% Patented lune I8, |901.

E. A. WRIGHT.

STRAW STACKER.

(Application led July 3. 1899.'

5 Shees-Sheet 4.

- (No Model.)

QN N su@ N Nw m@ my ill N omwvw bv av C www @mm ik 5N @1&1 195%@ www.me@ maw .NWWN Nh.. @nu Av Q @w d A N. No m5 w 9m n wm N. N @89% mm |I||m u mwm. D a l h u Nm. I QR. ma v. nm @u Nw m. QN me@ .ww W Nl?) t v @NWd. hv d NW NAw U5 UNM. hw rnv Patented lune '|8, |901.

No. 676,48l.

E. A1..wR|GHT. STBAW STACKEB.

(Application filed July 3, 1899 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 ne mum wenn: eo.mooufno.. wlamncn'ou. u. c.

UNTTED STATES PATENT Ormea.

EDGAR A; VRIGHT, OF CANTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE AULTMA COMPANY, OFSAME PLACE.

STRAW-STACKER.

SPECIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 676,481, dated J' une18, 1901. Application filed July 3, 1899. Serial No. 722,705. (Nomodel.)

To @ZZ whom t may concern,.- I Be it known that I, EDGAR A. WRIGHT, acitizen of the United States, residing at Oanton, in the county of Starkand State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inStraw-Smokers, of which the following is a specification, referencebeing had therein to the accompanying drawings.

Figure l is a side elevation of part of a thresher and separatormechanism and of a straw-stacker embodying my improvement. Fig. 2 is aplan View of the frame and mechanism by which the stacker is supportedand rotated horizontally and showing a part of the main stacker-carrier.Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the stacker-frame and mechanisms, showingthe two carrier-sections in the positions occupied when at work.. Fig.4E is a central vertical longitudinal section. Fig. 5 is a centralVertical transverse section. Fig. 6 is an elevation from the inner orfrontend. Fig. 7 is a vertical transverse section of the clutchforfreeingor disconnectingthestackerframes from the rotating mechanism.Fig. S is a bottom plan View of the parts in Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a sideelevation of the same. Fig. l0 shows detached some of the details inFigs. 7 to 9. Fig. 1l shows the spring device for throwing the clutch.

In the drawings I have shown a portion of a threshing and separatingmechanism to which those devices are adapted to .be connected whichparticularly` embody the present invention; but. it will be understoodthat s'o far as the thresher and separator are concerned they can be ofany preferred sort;

The main frame, which supports the stacking mechanism, is rigidlysecured to and extends backward from the rear end and the lower part ofthe frame of the thresher. This stacker-frame is shown as having thelongitudinal sills l l, extending backward from the bottom sills of thethresher. These longitudinal sills are connected by cross-grts 2 2 and 33, the latter being preferably metallic bars extending from one sill lto the other and secured to the under side thereof. The cross-girts 2 2may be lighter and made of wood and have their upper surfaces in higherplanes, being preferably about level with the tops of the sills l. Atthe center, transversely of this main bottom frame and at a pointsuitably near the' rear end thereof, there is placed a strong bracket3l, which is bolted to two of the cross-girts 2. Preferably it is astrong casting and is formedwith an upwardly-extending tubular bearingor post 31a. Around it turn the movable parts of the stacking mechanismsand their frame, which are constructed and arranged as follows:

33 indicates a ring concentric with the axis `of the aforesaid bearingat 31f. It has a horizontal base-plate part 33a and a vertical flange33h.

` 33c indicates clips or retainingvears bolted to the girts 2 2 of theframe and engaging with the horizontal part 33a.

34 34 are cross-bars rigidly secured to the" ring 33 and extendingtransversely of the main bottom frame.

35 35 are bars fastened to those aforesaid at 34 and to the ring 33 andextending longitudinally. At their rear or outer ends they are securedto a cross-bar 36, and from the outer end of the latter there extendforward and inward inclined braces 37 37',v which are also irmlyfastened to the ring or adjacent framework. These bars 37 are at theirrear ends extended beyond the cross-bar 3G and are shaped to have or areconnected to bearings, as at 37a, for the supporting of the longer rearpart of the stacker-conveyer. The longitudinal bars 35 are preferablymade of angle-irons; but to increase the strength of such material Igenerally supplement them with reinforcing-bars, as shown at 4:9.

At 32 there is a bracket rigidly secured to the upper frame, beingpreferably fastened to the aforesaid bars 34. It is placed so as tocoincide withthe bearing-bracket 3l on the lower stationary frame, ithaving a pivotal connection with the latter, preferably by means of thetubular extension 31a.

From what has been above described it will be seen that the 'upper frameis rotatable upon the lower stationary one, the centering thereof beingeifected by the bracket-castings 3l 32, and it is around their verticalaxis that the rotation occurs.

Upon the top rotary frame are mounted the two parts of the carrier andelevator. The

IOO

first of these is indicated as a whole by A and the second by B. Thepart A is composed of side boards 45 and the inner end board 50 andsuitable cross-framing pieces. In this frame and casing is mounted theendless straw-carrier 51, its belts or chains passingover the rollers 4141a. Power is transmitted to the inner or rear roller by means of/ wardfrom and are secured to the inner part 4 'of the rotary frame. The outeror rear end of the carrier-frame is supported by the legs 42, whichextend downward a suitable dis-l tance and can rest upon the cross-bar36.

The othervlonger rear inclined part B of the i straw-carrier is at itsinner end hinged to the outer end of the rotary frame, there beinglaterally-projecting hinge arms or bars 52 at the axis of its lowerroller. the straw-carrier may be of any of the usual constructions asconcerns its framing and its carrier-belt. The carrier is driven fromthe inner roller,and the latter receives power from the chain 47, whichengages with the sprocketwheel 3S and is driven by the sprocketwheel 53.The two aforesaid sprocket-wheels 53 and 46 are secured to a transverseshaft 28, mounted in the upper revolving frame. This shaft is driven bybevel-gearing, comprising the wheels 54 at the inner end of the shaft23, the horizontal bevel-gear 55 on the vertical shaft 56, mounted atthe axis of the mechanism in the said brackets 31 and 32, a secondhorizontal bevel-wheel 57 at the lower end of the shaft 56, and thebevel-wheel 5S. The bevel-wheel 5S is secured to the shaft 27, which ismounted in the lower stationary frame. It extends to the side of saidframe and has a sprocket-wheel 2G, which is driven by the chain 25,engaging with a sprocket 24 on the prime power-shaft 59, the latterreceiving motion through a belt from the thresher engaging with itsbelt-wheel G0.

From the train of devices above described the motions are transmitted tothe carriersections in the two parts A and B simultaneously. At the sametime the upper rotary frame, together with the carrier-sections, isoscillated horizontally as follows: 9 indicates achain which extendsmore or less around the ring 33, it engaging with a vertical iiange 33bthereof. lts ends may be fastened to the ring at suitablepoi-nts, or thering can be provided with teeth to engage an endless chain. The centralpart of this chain engages with a sprocket-wheel 6 on the vertical shaft6, this shaft extending upward from the bracketplate 61, fastened to thecross-bars 3 The sprocket-wheel 6 is secured to the shaft and can beengaged with any suitable rotary driving device. As shown, the drivingde- This part B of.v

on the shaft 63.

vice consists of the worm -wheel 5, loosely mounted on the shaft 61 andadapted to be engaged with the sprocket-wheel 6 by movable clutch-pins7. These pins can be slid into and out from the apertures 62 in thesprocket-wheel, they sliding through corresponding apertures in theworm-wheel. 3 is a clutch-lever by which the pins can be thrown into orout of engagement with the sprocketwheel. This can be accomplished inany suitable way. As shown, it is effected as follows: The pins 7 aresecured rigidly to a plate 75. The lever 8 is formed in two separablehalves 76 76, each half at its inner end carrying a half-ring 77. On theinner side of the ring halves there are grooves 78, which coincide andprovide a seat for the edge of the plate 75. 0n the outer face of thering there are spiral or cam-like ribs 79, which are fitted in ways atSO in the lugs S1, that extend upward from the frame-plate 61. Whenthese several parts are properly assembled, it will be seen that theplate 75 and the pins 7 can be raised or lowered by merely moving thelever 8 to the right or to the left, this causing the ring part to beelevated or lowered by reason of the action of the spirals or cams 79 intheir guideways. By these devices the wheels 5 and 6 can be quicklydisconnectedor connected, as desired.

The worm-wheel 5 is driven by the worm 4 This shaft can be driven ineither direction, it having two wheels 19 and 2O secured to it at asuitable distance apart.

64 is a shaft for driving the wheels 19 and 20, it receiving power fromthe aforesaid shaft 59 through the pinion 23 and the wheel 22. Thisshaft 64 has two loose piuions 13 and 21, respectively meshing with theaforesaid wheels 19 and 20. Between these loose wheels is the slidingclutch 15, splined to the shaft 64 and adapted to engage with saidwheels 1S and 21 alternately. The clutch is moved by the lever 14,pivoted at 65 to a suitable frame-bar 13, this lever being cona nectedto the clutch by shipping pins or jaws of any preferred sort. When theclutch en-A gages with the wheel21, the worm-shaft 63 is driven directlyby the wheels 2O and 21 in one direction, and when the clutch engageswith the pinion 18 the worm-shaft 63 is driven in the oppositedirection, there being an idlerwheel 17 interposed between the wheels 18and 19 for reversing the motion.

When the shaft 63 is rotating in one direction, the ring 33 and the toprotary frame are, together with the stacker-sections, moved to theright. Vhen the clutch is reversed and the shaft 63 is driven in theopposite direction, the aforsesaid parts are moved to the left.

The clutch is provided with partsby which it can be reversed by hand andothers by which it can be reversed automatically. To move itautomatically, the following devices are used: 29 is a trip-rod whoseoperative part is concentric with the axis of rotation IOO IIO

of the stacker, the ends of the rod being fastened to the rotary frame.It is provided at suitable intervals with adjustable collars 66, held byset-screws 30, and which can be placed as desired. The aforesaid lever14 has an arm 67 lying in the path of the trip-collars, and the latteralternately strike it and operate the reverse lever and clutch. Theother arm of the lever 14 is pivoted to the sliding rod 68, which hasthe handle 69, whereby the operator can throw the clutch whenever hedesires.

To insure that the clutch shall promptly and quickly travel to the endof its path and engage with the wheel 18 or 21, toward which it has beenstarted by the above devices, I combine with the lever 14 a spring S6,which is compressed while the lever is swinging to its central positionand then expands and acts to carry the lever to the end of its pathafter crossing the center line. Such a spring can be arranged in any ofseveral ways, as shown it being arranged to bear against a lug at 87,which guides the spring-sustaining rod 86, the latter being pivoted atS8 to a suitable support secured to the frame.

The entire train of devices for oscillating the stacker can be thrownout of action or into action by means of the clutch 89 on the maindriving shaft 59, this clutch being splined to the shaft and the pinion23. being loose thereon. The clutch can be moved in any suitable way, asby a lever 90 and ahandrod 91.

Vhen devices similar to those above described a-re employed, it will beseen that I can accomplish several important ends. It is very desirableon many occasions to temporarily disengage the stacker from themechanism which operates it and leave it free to vibrate, althoughdisconnected from the I power-driven parts, (which latter can continuein their normal movement,) so that the operative who may be on the stackcan easily by hand move the elevator around the axis at 3l 32 from pointto point or even hold it stationary at any point for a time, as he maydeem fit, in order to shape the stack properly. To attain this, it isonly necessary to move the lever 8 in the proper direction to withdrawthe pins 7 from the wheel 6, for after this is done, while the powerparts continue in their normal movement, the stacker-frames are free tobe turned by hand, as desired. Again, it is frequently necessary to stopthe stacker-frame at some point and hold it there a longer or shortertime; but the action of the wind-even a light wind-will prevent this ifthe stacker is free and disengaged in the manner last described, andtherefore it becomes necessary at such times to have a lock. To thuspermit the stacker to be stopped at any point, and at the same time tohold it there locked, it is only necessary to move the clutch S9 to itsinactive position, for thereafter the entire train ofoscillation-causing mechanism will be stopped, and the worm 4 andworm-wheel 5 act as a rigid lock to prevent the stacker-frames fromturning, the pins 7 in such case being in their upper position andengaging with the wheel 6. With respect to the arrangement of theseparts for causing the oscillation of the stacker-frames it Will benoticed that there is considerable difference when compared with thearrangementin other constructions. One of my purposes is to verticallyshorten the mechanism or place conipactly the frames andthe horizontalcarrier, and to accomplish this I have removed a great part of thegearing and shafting which has heretofore been placed at the principalcenter of vertical oscillation and have placed them at points remotefrom that center, and particularly have placed them where their weightcan be more advantageously provided for. The arrangement which I havedevised is of great importance in stackers whose baseframes are rigidlyand permanently attached to the rear of the separator-casing. I bringthe gearing and the heavy metallic parts forward and inward and placethem where their weight is carried easily by the rear axle of the mainmachine and prevent them from exerting a powerful leverage behind saidaxle,and,again, by arranging them in this wayI am enabled to bring thetopmost part ofthe stacker devices to a low horizontal plane and insurethat not only shall all of the straw from the upper part of theseparator be caught, but also that the section A shall be low enough toproperly receive the cha and material that is thrown out by thewinnower.

To prevent the straw from being carried laterally away from the lines ofrthe stacker by the wind or otherwise, I employ a curtain or flexiblechute 92, which is secured to the rear end of the separator and is ofsuch shape and dimensions as to allow the straw to freely descend and atthe same time furnish at the sides guards against their being deflected.The curtain is indicated by 92, and with it is combined a supporting rodor hoop 93, which when the curtain is'down lies in about the centralhorizontal-plane of the separator and holds the curtain in properposition,but which can be turned upon its pivot-axis at 94 when theparts of the machine are to be folded, the positions occupied whenfolded being illustrated in Fig. 1. This ligure shows that the severalparts which I have above described can be arranged compactly when out ofuse. The outer roller of the section A when the machine is at work is inor close to the vertical planes of the roller of the outer section, sothat the straw can be delivered immediately from the section A to thesection B; but the overhanging part of the inner section does notinterfere with the throwing back of the outer section close to theseparator when the parts are to be packed.

What I claim is- 1. In a straw separating and stacking mechanism, thecombination with the separator, of a lower stationary frame rigidlysecured to IOO IIO

the separator-frame, the rotary frame thereon, the horizontal carrierhinged at its inner end to the inner end of the rotary frame, the rearendless carrier hinged at its inner end to the outer end of the rotaryframe, and the driving devices on the rotary frame for the carriershaving separate permanent connections therewith, whereby said carriersare independent of each other in their movements on their hingessubstantially as set forth.

2. In astraw separating and stacking mechanism the combination with theseparator, of a lower stationary frame rigidly secured to theseparator-frame, the rotary frame on the stationary frame, thehorizontally-arranged inner straw-carrier vertically adjustable on therotary frame about an axis at its inner end, the outer carrier hinged tothe outer end of the rotary frame, a driven shaft on the rotary frameunder the inner carrier, a chain extending rearward therefrom to thehingeaxis of the outer carrier, a chain extending therefrom to the axisof the inner carrier, and means for driving said chains, substantiallyas set forth.

3. In astraw separating and stacking mechanism, the combination of alower rigid frame, a rotary frame mounted thereon, a horizontalcar1iersection hinged at its inner end to the rotary frame, the rearcarrier-section hinged at its inner end to the rotary frame, endlesscarriers in the said carrier-sections, and driving mechanism on therotary frame for the carriers extending respectively to the axes of thesaid hinged carrier-sections, whereby the said sections Vmay be adjustedindependently of each other without disturbing the said driving-gearing,substantially as set forth.

4. In a straw separating and stacking mechanism, the combination of alower stationary frame, the rotary frame,the rearouter stackercarrierhaving its inner end hinged to the outer part of the rotary frame, thehorizontal inner carrier having its carrying parts arranged when inoperation to extend across the vertical planes of the inner end of theouter carrier, bothisaid inner and outer carriers being adapted to befolded or turned back and rest against or upon the separator, andseparate actuating means for said carriers whereby the latter areindependent in their folding movements, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination of' a lower stationary frame, the rotaryframethereon, the inner horizontal carrier hinged to the rotary frame,

.the outer carrier hinged to the rotary frame,

the vertical power-shaft at the center of rotation of the rotary frame,the bevel-gear at the lower end of said power-shaft, means on the lowerframe for transmitting power to said gearing, a horizontal shaft on therotary frame driven by said vertical shaft, a powertransmittingconnection between said horizontal shaft and the inner carrier, and aseparate connection between said horizontal shaft and the outer carrier,substantially as set forth.

6. The combination of a lower fixed frame, a rotary frame .thereon, thestacker-section carried by the said rotary frame, gearing arranged toimpart an oscillatory movement to the rotary frame, and arranged to lockthe same against accidental rotation or oscillation when the gearing isnot operating, a clutch device by means of which the rotary frame may beseparated from or connected with the said gearing, whereby when it isdisconnected the rotary frame is free to be moved by hand, and anotherclutch device arranged between the aforesaid gearing and the prime motortherefor, substantially as set forth.

7. In a straw-stacker, the combination of a lower fixed frame, a rotaryframe thereon, the stacker-section carried by the rotary frame,mechanism arranged to impart rotary movements to the said rotary frame,a prime power device for the aforesaid mechanism, a clutch interposedbetween the said power device and mechanism, whereby they may beconnected or disconnected, and means for locking the rotary frame fromaccidental movement when the said clutch is moved to disconnect themechanism from the power device, substantially as set forth.

8. The combination of a lower fixed frame, the rotary frame thereon, thehorizontal carrier hinged to the top of the rotary frame, the rearinclined carrier hinged to the rotary frame, the chain connected to therotaryframe for rotating it, the horizontallyarranged sprocket-wheelengaging with the chain, a worm for actuating said sprocket-wheel, thereversible mechanism com prisinga clutch for turning the wormalternately, in opposite directions, means for disconnecting the wormand sprocket-wheel, and a second clutch for y driving or throwing out ofoperation said reversible mechanism,substantially as set forth. 9. Thecombination of the lower stationary frame, the rotary frame thereon, thehorizontal carrier hinged to the rotary frame,the rear inclined carrierhinged to the rotary frame,the chain connected to the rotary frame formoving it horizontally in opposite directions alternately, thehorizontally-mounted chainwheel, the reversible turning mechanism foractuating the chain wheel, the clutch for throwing the chain-,wheel intoand out of action, a main driving mechanism, and a second clutch betweenthe latter and said reversible mechanism, substantially as set forth.

10. The combination of a lower stationary frame, the rotary frame, thehorizontal carrier on the rotary frame, the rear inclined carrier hingedto the rotary frame, the horizontally-arranged drivin g-wheel fortransmitting rotary motion tothe rotary frame and mounted eccentric tothe axis of rotation of said frame, a reversible shaft for actuatingsaid drive-wheel, two sets of power-wheels for IOO IIO

rotating said reversible shaft, the clutch for alternately engaging anddisengaging the sets of power-wheels, a main driving mechanism, a clutchbetween the latter and said first-mentioned clutch, and means fordriving the carriers leading from said main driving mechanism outside ofor beyond the latter clutch.

11. The combination with the rotary frame and the stacker-carriersupported thereby, of a horizontallymounted sprocket-wheel, a wheel 5for driving the sprocket-Wheel,the d etachable clutch-pins connectingthe sprocketwheel and its driving-wheel, a lever oscillating in planestransverse to said pins, and a cam connection between said lever andpins for moving the latter longitudinally.

12. The combination with the rotary frame and the stacker-sectioncarried thereby, of gearing for imparting rotary movements to the saidrotary frame comprising a pair of wheels arranged close face to face,one of the wheels being geared with the rotary frame, and the other withthe power or driving devices, and a clutch for connecting the saidwheels, it being arranged upon one side of one of the said wheels andextending through the saine and adapted to detachably engage with theother wheel whereby said wheels and clutch can be arranged in a limitedspace longitudinally of their shaft, substantially as set forth.

13. The combination with the rotary-frame and the stacker-carrierssupported thereon, of the mechanism for rotating the rotary frame, theclutch for throwing it out ot' action, and the reversible power devicesfor moving it alternately in opposite directions, aud a second clutchbetween the said reversible devices and the main power mechanismsubstantially as set forth.

14. The combination with the rotary frame and the stacker-carrierssupported thereon, of the reversible shaft,means connecting said shaftwith the rotary frame, two sets of driving devices for the reversibleshaft, the clutch between the two sets of driving devices, theclutch-shifting lever,trip devices on the rotary frame for moving thesaid lever, and hand operating devices connected to the clutch,substantially as set forth.

15. The combination of the separator and its frame, the stackerbase-frame attached to the separator-frame extending rearward therefrom,the rotary frame on the baseframe, the horizontal carrier and theinclined carrier connected to the rotary frame, means at the axis of therotary frame for driving the carriers, and means between said axis andthe separator-frame comprising a worm, a clutch between the latter andthe rotary frame, a transverse shaft driving said worm, a reversibleshaft driving said transverse shaft, a main power-shaft driving thereversible shaft, and a clutch on the latter shaft for impartingrotation to the rotary frame, substantially as set forth.

16. The combination of the separator anc its frame, the stackerbase-frame attached to the separator-frame, the rotary frame ou thebase-frame, the ring on the rotary frame, the driving-wheel 6 remotefrom said ring, means for rotating the said wheel b' alternately inopposite directions, comprising aworm, a chain connecting the said wheelwith the said ring, aclutch or disconnecting device intermediate of saidworm and chain, and a second clutch or disconnecting device between saidworm and the main powerl device substantially as set forth.

17. The combination with the rotary frame and the stacker-carriersupported thereby, a rotating driver for the rotary frame, power devicesfor actuating the driver, and adapted to be moved continuously, meansfor diseon` necting the driver from the rotary frame whereby the latteris free to be moved in either direction independently of the powerdevices, and separate means for disconnecting said driver from the mainpower device, substantially as s et forth.

18. The combination ot the rotary frame, the stacker-carrier supportedthereby, the driver for rotating the rotary frame, the power devices foractuating the' driver, means for disconnecting the power devices fromthe driver, and means for locking the rotary frame independent of thecarrier and its opl EDGAR A. WRIGHT.

Witnesses:

PRIMUS PHILIPPI, W. R. BAXTER.

IOO

